Entertainment roundtable: Gypsy girls, Twilight and evil award shows

By Mike Koehler

Published: November 18, 2008

“Roundtable, Entertainment Roundtable.”

There’s just something about that James Bond vibe in the air which makes movies a little bit more fun. So I asked out resident entertainment gurus what they thought of 007’s return, the new hot actors in Hollywood, dream concerts at the Ford Center and the painful necessity of award shows.

In this file image released by Sony Pictures, Daniel Craig stars as James Bond 007 in pursuit of an Mi6 traitor in a scene from " Quantum of Solace." Along with sports cars, gadgets and sex appeal, an impeccable sense of style is a hallmark of the now 46-year-old James Bond movie franchise, which expands to 22 films with the release of " Quantum of Solace." (AP Photo/Sony Pictures, FILE)

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Here are their answers – shaken, not stirred.

1. Quantum of Solace is out. What's your take on the current status of the James Bond franchise and which is your favorite of the movies?

Entertainment writer Brandy McDonnell: “Quantum of Solace" made more than $70 million its opening weekend, a record for a Bond movie. It think the franchise is in great shape. In my opinion, to find the best of the Bond movies, you have to go all the way back to the second movie, "From Russia with Love." Intrigue, romance, assassins with knives in their shoes, gypsy girls fighting to the death, great culinary advice (only bad guys drink red wine with fish) and lots and lots of Sean Connery. Nobody does it better.”

Entertainment Editor Gene Triplett: “The franchise is fully revived and kicking with Daniel Craig filling the 007 role. Like I said in my review of "Quantum of Solace," he's what makes this film and "Casino Royale" (2006) better than anything in the series since Sean Connery hung up his Beretta and turned in his license to kill. Stone-faced Craig is superb, bringing to life the no-nonsense Bond that creator Ian Fleming intended -- dark, deadly, damaged and hard as gunmetal. But my favorite is still "Goldfinger," even though they started taking things over the top in that one. Connery really owned it by that time, and for all time in my book.”

Assistant Entertainment Editor George Lang: I'm still partial to "From Russia With Love" and "Goldfinger." Time will tell if "Casino Royale" and "Quantum of Solace" hold up as well 45 years from now. I think there's a good chance. The reinvention of James Bond has as much to do with the Bourne films as it does the increasing darkness of our heroes, but it came at a crucial juncture in the franchise -- if they didn't infuse the character with emotion and more physicality, it would have just fallen deeper into self-parody. Other than Christopher Nolan's Batman films, this is the most artistically successful reboot of a series, though it will not have reached its zenith until Russell Brand takes over the character in 2015. Bwah!

Assistant Features Editor Matt Price: “It's going strong. I think some people are a little surprised at the brutality of this James Bond - he's certainly much less of a quipper than most of the previous 007s. But, that's a deliberate choice, partially because of Austin Powers, and partially because that may be where escapist entertainment is going -- look how dark "The Dark Knight" was.

“As far as my favorite "Bond" movie, it's a tough call. I re-watched a lot of them in order to write up synopses for our 007 site at www.newsok.com/bond. "Dr. No" held up. "Goldfinger" is probably my overall favorite. "The Spy Who Loved Me" is maybe the best Roger Moore episode.”

2. A lot of folks are talking about "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson being the next big thing. Who is your pick for the next young breakout performer in music or movies?

McDonnell: “Twilight” is so big that everyone associated with the film has the chance to become the next big overnight sensation, particularly Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Cam Gigandet.”

“I think we'll see Christopher Mintz-Plasse of "Role Models" and "Superbad" become the next Michael Cera, sort of the ultra-geeky but still somewhat cool guy.”

Triplett: “High School Musical 3” was meant as a launching pad for Zac Efron's grown-up movie career, and the remake of "Footloose" should turn the trick when it finally comes out in 2010. On the female side, my pick is Kat Dennings. Her sultry presence stole scene after scene away from Michael Cera in "Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist." Musically I'll go out on a limb and say Tulsa-based hard rock band Crooked X will make big noise when their debut album releases on EMI Records in January. They've already opened for KISS and Ted Nugent and appeared on CBS' "Early Show" -- and they're only 14 years old.”

Lang: Everything is so transitory, it's hard to tell -- I thought Evan Rachel Wood would be the next Nicole Kidman, but then Kristen Stewart became the next Evan Rachel Wood while Evan Rachel Wood was becoming the next Dita Von Teese. But enough of that. As female actors go, I think Kat Dennings from "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" has a great future. And I think that after "Watchmen," Jeffrey Dean Morgan is going to be huge, and not in that "couldn't afford Robert Downey Jr" kind of way that he is now.

Price: “He may have already "broken out," but I certainly enjoy the work of Michael Cera, and am looking forward to seeing him in "Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life," based on the graphic novel by Bryan Lee O'Malley and directed by Edgar Wright.”

3. Coldplay has come and gone. Is there still a dream concert you'd like to see at the Ford Center?

Lang: I think the only real answer is U2. If U2 plays the Ford in '09, then the arena has done everything it was designed to do.

McDonnell: “After sitting in awe of Page and Plant back in 1998 at the Cox Convention Center, all I want to see at the Ford Center is Led Zeppelin in concert. Is that too much to ask?”

Triplett: “Neil Young, with Wilco and Son Volt opening. Of course, that'll never happen since former Uncle Tupelo partners Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar haven't spoken to one another in years. But you said "dream.’”

Price: “It's too bad The Police didn't make it here on their reunion tour. As far as more current superstars, how about My Chemical Romance?”

4. My wife forced me to watch the CMAs, which made me wonder about your thoughts on award shows. Are any of the hundreds that are out there worth watching? If so, which ones?

McDonnell: “Anyone who read my live-blog on the CMA Awards, or any past awards shows, knows that I'm not big on the scripted banter, the cheesy video montages, the blustery acceptance speeches of awards shows. Awards shows do have their place, but there are too many of them these days.

“As far as music awards shows, the best ones are the ones with lots of performances, particularly those debuting new songs. That really seems to be the purpose of many of them, along with creating a place for fashion designers to show off their latest creations on almost frighteningly thin celebrities.”

Triplett: “The Oscars and Golden Globes are the only award shows that hold interest for me, but only if one or more of my favorites are up for trophies. Music award shows leave me cold because they're more about sales than merit.”

Price: “Oh, I think it entirely depends what you like. Many of them have a few great moments spread over a too-long running time. They're probably best to TiVo or DVR or whatever your preferred record-and-fast-forward strategy is.”

Lang: “How can you not love spending four and a half hours watching the interminable lionizing of other people's work -- it's scintillating! And no award show is complete without the "bring out yer dead" portion of the evening. I despise awards shows, but in this business they are a necessary evil. Eeeeevillll.”

Your thoughts!